Opinion | Hongkongers should back move to impeach Leung
Albert Cheng says legislators are right to demand that Leung should go, given his evasive responses on his role in the illegal structures row
Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying finally responded to a request from the Legislative Council's house committee to face questions on illegal building structures at his Peak houses.
He sent a written reply through the Chief Executive's Office two weeks after receiving the Legco invitation. House committee chairman Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen said a session would be fixed for next week.
On the surface, Leung seems open and responsive, but in fact he is trying to dodge a wave of attacks from the pan-democrats, who are trying to use the council's special powers and privileges to launch an investigation. Meanwhile, they are also planning to move a no-confidence motion against Leung and start impeachment proceedings.
Leung previously said the illegal structures had been dealt with. His comment was shocking. The Buildings Department recently inspected his homes and confirmed the existence of illegal structures in the basement before issuing a demolition notice.
In fact, with all the evidence presented so far, there is really no need for him to give a full account; he is guilty as charged. Legislators should therefore move to start impeachment proceedings.
If the illegal structures scandal had been exposed during the chief executive election, Leung's approval ratings would certainly have nosedived like those of his rival Henry Tang Ying-yen, who was also found to have had illegal work done to his Kowloon Tong mansion.